Category: Blogs

NATO Secretary General promises transition details at Lisbon Summit

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

From Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO:  Now, many of you might be thinking: yes, we know why our soldiers are there. But the real question, Secretary General, is: is it working? My answer is this. Slowly but surely, it is working. Of course, every day is difficult. Every day. But the big picture is this: in […]

NATO intel chief in Afghanistan leaving for new post

By Kimberly Dozier and Anne Gearan, the AP

From Kimberly Dozier and Anne Gearan, the AP:  The top U.S. and NATO intelligence officer in Afghanistan, Maj. Gen. Michael Flynn, is moving to a senior intelligence job in Washington, two defense officials said Thursday. Army spokesman Col. Thomas Collins confirmed Flynn would be taking up a new post but would not specify it because […]

The Russo-German Energy Pincer

By Alexandros Petersen

Earlier this month, the world’s largest pipe-laying vessel, the Solitaire, began work on the Gulf of Finland section of the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline. The vessel’s name is appropriate, as the pipeline represents Germany’s choice to go it alone in achieving energy security within the European Union. Nord Stream, one of the longest and […]

EU diplomatic corps leaves new members out in cold: Estonia

By AFP

Playing with Fire

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

A southern U.S. preacher with a flock of 50 in Gainesville, Fla., decided to mark the ninth anniversary of 9/11 by lighting a fire that quickly circled the globe — with a public burning of the Koran, much the way Hitler ordered public bonfires fueled with books written by Jews. The Rev. Terry Jones dubbed […]

NATO Reset With Russia, but With Reassurance

By Linas Linkevicius, the International Herald Tribune

From Linas Linkevicius, the International Herald Tribune: The strategic concept will have to explain to our societies what NATO stands for in the 21st century. Allies approach this task from two different perspectives.

French General Receives Reprimand for Criticizing US Strategy in Afghanistan

By Le Monde

Clinton to Europe: “we are always strongest when we work together”

By Hillary Clinton, the Council on Foreign Relations

From Hillary Clinton, the Council on Foreign Relations:  As Dean Acheson put it in 1951, the ability to evoke support from others is quite as important as the capacity to compel.

As Azeri and Armenian forces continue fighting, EU fears escalation

By Zaman

From Zaman:  The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that tensions between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces is continuing to mount, as fierce fighting persisted between the two nations on Monday and early Tuesday.